Sermon Tone Analysis

-56

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.41

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary’s Song

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Introduction: You’re pastor is weird and says Blessings all the time.

What is that all about?

Introduction:

Christians talk about being blessed all the time

What does it mean to be Blessed?

Elisabeth calls Mary Blessed, Mary says she will be blessed.

- Story of Luke so far.

We often think of blessing as success - primarily monetary success.

Contrast Mary is blessed along those terms - opposite.

Temple Virgin???? “female slave.”

Levitical heritage (relative of Elisabeth and Zechariah), but also line of David.

Humble by social status - Because of Herod and Kings before...

A new non-Davidic dynasty, the Hasmoneans, had assumed the Jewish throne, later to be replaced by Herod the Great.

Herod, who was not Jewish, was so paranoid about his questionable parentage that he burned all the public genealogies of the Jews, thinking that he would appear more legitimate if no one else could trace their roots.

He was especially afraid of those who were descendants of the royal Davidic line.

- Erin Zimmerman of CBN.

Despite all of this she is called blessed

Blessing is not the posession of Material wealth, but a state of happiness based on the Good given by God.

Weymouth’s New Testament suggests: ‘People who are blessed may outwardly be much to be pitied, but from the higher and therefore truer standpoint they are to be envied, congratulated, and imitated.’

Both Elisabeth and Mary are expressing how blessed the truly are.

That’s because...

The Humble Believer will be Blessed

Mary and Elisabeth are being shown as examples to us.

Mary - Believes, but wonders how

Mary when told says, “OK God, I will believe you at your word.”

Zechariah - Says, “Give me a sign to prove I can believe.”

Mary will be called blessed because of her simple, humble obedience to participate in God’s Mission.

Both Mary and Elisabeth are over joyed.

Why, simply for the privilege to be asked to participate in God’s work.

Do you get this excited when God calls you to participate in his mission.

Do you believe that he will bless you? - Bring joy, a state of goodness to you?

Here is why Mary is overjoyed and praises God.

She has been humbly waiting vs. Herod and proud people usurp and take.

Mary applies this first to herself and then to everyone.

God blesses the poor (those in a low status), but not just the poor those who trust in God.

So the question for us is...

How Will We Humbly Serve in Christ’s Name?

It begins with a sense of honor for getting to participate in God’s mission.

Do we see God’s call for us to serve an honor or a chore?

When

Then we believe him for his promises.

Mary believed the promise of an Eternal King from the line of David

Do you believe in that King who promised to come, who when he did he healed, delivered, and established his kingdom?

Do you believe he died for your sins, rose from the dead, gave us salvation and the Holy Spirit to participate in his work, and that he will come again and bring the proud low?

And we wait for his leading, we do not pridefully force it to happen.

- David did not, Mary did not, Joseph did not, they all waited for God to give them what he promised.

The proud like Herod took it, stole it, decieved for it, usurped it, and killed for it.

Can you wait for the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Conclusion:

I truly wish you all to be blessed.

When I say that it is not just words, I want God’s goodness, wholeness to be on you.

To wish you blessed is that God would honor you with his calling, that you would find his joy in serving him, and as you wait for him, he shows you how truly good he is.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis.

Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 33-36, 40, 43, 122-124, Belgic Confession: Article 2, 18 Canon’s of Dort: Heads III&IV, Articles 6-7; Head V , Article 6 Belhar Confession: Article 4

Belgic Confession: Article 2, 18 Canon’s of Dort: Heads III&IV, Articles 6-7; Head V , Article 6 Belhar Confession: Articles 1-5